Raise body temperature in preparation for more strenuous activity and increase the athletes awareness of how current conditions affect the ball. Additionally this drill develops hand eye coordination and encourages good athletic body position.
Set up
# of players : 1 – 12 players
Ideal : 1 player
Equipment : 1+
Average duration : 5-10 minutes
Description
- Each athlete starts with one ball. The drill begins with one athlete throwing their ball to their partner in this drill. (athlete 1 throws the ball to athlete 2)
- Before the thrown ball reaches athlete 2 they must throw their own ball up in the air, catch the ball thrown to them, throw the caught ball back to their partner and then proceed to catch their own ball.
Evaluation : # of repetitions in a row (ex. 5)
Variations
- facing all directions in the wind
Progression
- Once each pair has managed this successfully several times then they should try to throw their own ball up every time the ball comes to them
- Try to speed it up so it eventually looks like the two athletes a juggling.
- Then add an additional ball so there are 3.
Key points
- Athletes should focus on throwing their own ball straight up in the air, this way it is easier to catch when it comes down.
- The ball that is thrown across should be thrown fast and flat otherwise it may bump into the other ball.
- Athletes need be in the athletic position to enable them to catch balls away from them.